Published by: Medicare Rights Center Extra Help is a cost-assistance program that helps you pay for prescription drugs while on Medicare. It works by paying for your Part D premium (up to a state-specific benchmark amount) while lowering the cost of your prescription drugs. Note: You pay no premium if you have a basic Part […]
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Published by: medicarerights.org Good news from Medicare! It now covers prescriptions for the oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, through the end of 2024. You can access it in a couple of different ways. If your Part D plan participates in the Paxlovid patient assistance program, you can have your prescription filled free of cost at
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Published by: medicarerights.org The donut hole—the coverage gap—can be very confusing! Here’s what you need to know: There are four phases of Part D coverage in 2024: the deductible, initial coverage period, coverage gap (or donut hole), and catastrophic coverage. During the deductible, you are responsible for the full cost of your medications. After you
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center Limits on Drug Costs Medicare Part D plans have different coverage phases throughout the year. During these coverage phases, you pay different amounts for your drugs. In all Part D plans, you enter the catastrophic coverage phase after you reach $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs. This amount comprises
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center A newly effective Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provision is improving prescription drug affordability for many people with Medicare Part D — but too few know about it, potentially limiting its efficacy. As of January 1, 2024, Part D enrollees are no longer required to pay 5% coinsurance after they reach
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center If your Part D plan covers your medication but your copayment is expensive, it could be that the medication is on a high tier. Part D plans use tiers to categorize prescription drugs. Higher tiers are more expensive and have higher cost-sharing amounts. Each plan sets its tiers, and plans
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center Extra Help is a federal program that helps pay for some to most of the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage. It is also known as the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). Extra Help eligibility If your monthly income is up to $1,843 in 2023 ($2,485 for couples) and
Published by: Medicare Rights Center Medicare covers both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. And Medicare prescription drug plans cover medications used to treat mental health conditions, but be sure to check the formulary to ensure the brands and dosages you take are included. Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health care, including the following
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center It is usually best if someone enrolls in Medicare when they are first eligible. As you mentioned, many people who delay enrolling in Medicare must wait for the General Enrollment Period and then may owe a late enrollment penalty for life. Beginning this year, though, if someone misses a first-time
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